Swim Swim Sink by Jenn Harney (review)

Harney, Jenn Swim Swim Sink; written and illus. by Jenn Harney. Disney Hyperion, 2020 [38p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-368-05276-4 $12.99 Reviewed from galleys R 3-5 yrs

Three tiny ducklings hatch in the opening pages of this rhyming picture book and predictably follow mama duck to the water, where they all "Splish! Splish! Splash" into the water for their first swim. Except the last little one isn't quite as adept at its new environment as its siblings, so there the pattern is "Swim. Swim … Sink." Subsequent attempts by the duckling to stay afloat—using a helpful turtle, water wings, a scuba suit, and a jet ski when things really get desperate—don't pan out, but ultimately our feathered friend finds a perfect solution in repurposing its eggshell as a boat. The tale's a bit slight, but the narrator sets the stage for silliness early and quickly addresses the biggest kink in the premise: "Huh … I didn't know ducks could sink." The use of triple-patterned repetition creates an easy predictability for youngsters and a chance to join in the telling, and there's a cheeky subversion of a ducks-in-a-row type of orderliness with our protagonist's final choice of transportation. Linework of the digital illustrations has an energetic verve, and full spreads are appropriately washed in shades of teal and bright duckling yellow. This makes an obvious choice for a duck-themed storytime, but it might also pair well with Detlefsen's 1, 2, 3, Jump! (BCCB 4/19) as inspiration for pool- or pond-side fun.